Re: The energy crisis
 

Nice idea, but what appliances can you use like this? All our heavy users (dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer) need a button pressing to start them.

Re: The energy crisis
 

You can get switchbots

Re: The energy crisis
 

Most modern white goods have a time delay feature. As far as possible, our dishwasher only ever runs during the daytime, at a time of day I know the solar panels are likely to be generating what it needs.

Re: The energy crisis
 

I use the above

---------- Post added at 13:35 ---------- Previous post was at 13:35 ----------

On the dryer and dishwasher I use this

https://www.amazon.co.uk/BG-Electric...ps%2C85&sr=8-5

---------- Post added at 13:38 ---------- Previous post was at 13:35 ----------

And my son is planning to use this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fingerbot-C...ps%2C82&sr=8-7

using artificial skin (available on amazon) the washing machine has a touch button. Currently I use the delay button.

But if you avoid heavy use 4-7pm, with no gadgets, then you save 40-50% . Using the delay button you save 60%....

Re: The energy crisis
 

Re: The energy crisis
 

Great for shareholders and dividends. Stuff the consumer or providing an essential public service. It's typically Conservative and what they're about.

You need to re evalue your blind support if you think otherwise.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Exactly as its free market capitalism as what else would one expect.

Profit will always come first before us the customer.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Re: The energy crisis
 

Yes, worked brilliantly for the railways.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Read this

https://reneweconomy.com.au/this-is-...newables-soar/

There is oversupply of electricity on windy and sunny days in the UK.

https://winderful.uk/

Too much hydro electricity in Norway after rainy days or snow melting. Many countries cannot sell it. I was told the transformers cannot cope with oversupply of leccy. All of us have to shift electricity use and find ways to store it.

Octopus makes 100% profit on Agile leccy, I gave the public formula above. On standard tariffs, they have to play the future markets: some companies win, but many, many went belly up.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Regarding Agile, I switched a month or so ago and this app (on iOS) claims to show the savings made relative to a chosen (other) tariff for your region:

Octopus Compare

It claims that for the last month we spent £77.88 on Agile November 2022 v1 vs. £145.79 if we remained on the Standard Tariff April 2023 v1

Re: The energy crisis
 

Meanwhile I carry on paying on average 30% of the amount SVR (legacy) tariff users pay for the same usage. Using my smart meter with a smart tariff issued by a profit making utility provider.

Re: The energy crisis
 

This has probably been posted but for Octopus Agile folks, this site is useful:

https://energy-stats.uk/octopus-agile-southern-england/

Re: The energy crisis
 

Crisis, what crisis?

All good as the energy companies announce billions in profits and share buy backs.

Re: The energy crisis
 

11.21 BST here https://www.theguardian.com/business...-business-live

Two billion quid leaving these shores for the sunnier climbs of France.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Re: The energy crisis
 

How do people's monthly bills compare lately?

For me 2 bed house, I work shifts so half a day the house is empty and my gas with old conventional boiler for 25 days is £21 and Electricity £47 for the month on Octopus Flexible Tariff.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Do you constantly shiver in winter? ;)

Re: The energy crisis
 

Only when I get up at 5am on an Early Shift but obviously the heating isn't on at this time of year. ;)

Re: The energy crisis
 

Just received ours - electricity £106, gas £41, 30 days with a condenser boiler, 4 bed detached house.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Our electric currently is around £95 a month while our Gas comes in at around £25 a month.

Re: The energy crisis
 

The Price Cap will drop again on October 1st, from £2074 to £1923.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Question for anyone on Octopuses normal Flexible Tariff.

Octopus are offering me a fixed tariff called 'Loyal Octopus 12M Fixed' and say I could save £33.36 a year on Electricity and £30.75 on Gas if I switched with their monthly estimate at £102.11 compared to £107.45 on my current Tariff. My latest monthly usages bill is £56.33 for Electricity and £25 for Gas, I pay £100 a month via DD and now £360.60 in credit.

I've never had a fixed tariff before so I really don't know if I should switch or not....

Re: The energy crisis
 

I am not sure. If Octopus was not charging £75 per fuel if you want to switch mid contract I would be on the fix already but the £150 charges puts me off

It is dropping in October then rising in Jan but then it is all clouded. If it drops a decent amount in April and July you could find you losing out

Re: The energy crisis
 

Yes thats my train of thought too we just don't know.

Re: The energy crisis
 

I'm trying to decide what to do. My 2 year fix with Octopus ends on Setember 9th.I know I will go onto their Flexible (standard ) option automaticaly but they have also offered a Loyal Octopus 12M Fixed and I just can't decide what to do. ((glum face))

Re: The energy crisis
 

Re: The energy crisis
 

The price cap has ruined everything. Competition was great switching to the best cap deal every year

Re: The energy crisis
 

Exactly. They wouldn't make any of these fix offers if they didn't calculate they'd get more money out of you. (through retained custom and/or fixing too high). They ain't in it for our benefit.

Re: The energy crisis
 

They are still speculating on the market and could lose

Re: The energy crisis
 

The odds will always be in their favour or they wouldn't be in business. ( a bit like the bookies...)

Re: The energy crisis
 

how many went bust? bulb, avro ....

Re: The energy crisis
 

Mmmm….

https://www.theguardian.com/business...20last%20month.

Re: The energy crisis
 

I was offered a one year fix by my supplier Eon.Next at 1% below the Energy price cap I took the one year fix purely for peace of mind ,and after reading Martin Lewises MSE guide which says it was worth considering at that rate .

After its run its course I am hoping the prices will have come down again somewhat.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Re: The energy crisis
 

No thats 1% lower then the Energy price cap in July ,not the ones going forward its going down again in October just been announced ,before Cornwall Insight predict a slight rise in Januarys ,so I may end up as even Stevens on the deal .

But if it does rise unpredictably in January at least I am covered ,if the last few years have taught me anything at all its the almost totally unpredictable nature as regards the energy markets thanks largely to the Ukrainian invasion .

Re: The energy crisis
 

Re: The energy crisis
 

It might benefit the end user very slightly over the term. It benefits them (from a shareholder value perspective) to have a customer in contract for ever so slightly less profit than one who could in theory walk away any time.

I fixed with E.on in July at a price that’s still lower than the October price . My usage drops off a cliff in April anyway so I’m only really at risk of losing out in the January to March window having already saved in the six months before that.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Our latest energy bill from Scottish Power has arrived. All prices include VAT.

Electricity
Standing Charge: 53.82p per day
Was 33.28 p/kwh
From 1st July 30.22 p/kwh

Gas
Standing Charge: 29.11p per day
Was 10.47 p/kwh
From 1st July 7.66 p/kwh

Our electricity use per day was 11.8 kwh, they say the High Usage level is 11.7 kwh
Our gas use per day was 17.8 kwh, they say the Low Usage level is 21.9 kwh

Our electricity usage for this period was 884 kwh compared with 866 kwh for the same period last year.

Our gas usage for this period was 468 kwh compared with 526 kwh for the same period last year.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Octopus is set to acquire Shell's 2m energy customers, making it the second largest energy provider in the UK after British Gas. Not bad for a company that was originally a challenger brand and did not have its roots in a privatised electricty/gas supplier with millions of guaranteed customers from day one!
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/othe...ccc379bc&ei=15

Re: The energy crisis
 

Here’s the info on the Shell Energy page (we’re customers).

https://help.shellenergy.co.uk/hc/en...17469741986833

Re: The energy crisis
 

It is interesting the Octopus are taking on a Broadband provider

Re: The energy crisis
 

Considered moving to someone cheaper like Octopus?

Re: The energy crisis
 

Is anyone interested in breaking out a separate thread solely for the Octopus Agile tariff? As we go into the Autumn/Winter/Spring, the pricing could get interesting :D

Re: The energy crisis
 

yes

Agile Octopus & Octopus tracker

Leccy+ gas

No bloody wind the last few weeks!

https://winderful.uk/

Re: The energy crisis
 

Re: The energy crisis
 

Saudi Arabia :confused:

Re: The energy crisis
 

sandstorms!:D

When there is wind offshore in the UK, leccy is next to zero. Otherwise the fire up the gas to produce leccy.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Is it still cheaper than what us regular folk pay though?

Re: The energy crisis
 

Re: The energy crisis
 

I average

17p leccy, 4.5p gas

quite cheaper.

I will post the bill when it comes tomorrow (40+ pages of it)

---------- Post added at 21:23 ---------- Previous post was at 21:22 ----------

allegorical!

Re: The energy crisis
 

I was given a link, but I was rejected due to our postcode. :confused:

Re: The energy crisis
 

@everyone

here is a link

https://share.octopus.energy/sage-hawk-776

Octopus will give me 50 quid, if you use it, but I will sent you back 50 quid, if you send me a sort code/account number.

You will also receive £50 from octopus.

Ask for Agile Octopus +Octopus tracker

Re: The energy crisis
 

The unit cost with Octopus is exactly the same, but is 1.64p per day cheaper for both Standing Charges, under a £1 a month. Not worth the hassle.

Re: The energy crisis
 

From my bill

leccy

16.12p/kWh 396.4 kWh £63.92
Total consumption 396.4kWh @ 16.12p/kWh † £63.92
Standing Charge 31 days @ 40.73p/day £12.63

gas

Consumption 49.4 Units (m3)

Energy Used* 553.2 kWh @ 3.94p/kWh† £21.77
Standing Charge 31 days @ 25.56p/day £7.92

† Average unit rate charged per kilowatt-hour.

That's for Agile Octopus + Octopus tracker tariff

Use the link above and choose "Intelligent tariffs" and then Agile octopus + Octopus tracker...it is hidden for a reason.

Re: The energy crisis
 

I guess they didn't have much choice as it is part of Shell Energy. I suspect they won't keep it.

Re: The energy crisis
 

or maybe it is a new venture

Re: The energy crisis
 

Interesting first Bill from OVO (for August).
They charged me 14.85 for Electricity, which is simply the standing charge for the month.

This is despite they fact they have my meter readings for the month.
Gas was charged correctly, Standing plus usage from the meter readings.

I wonder how long this will last before they notice their system isnt working properly.


[ Years ago, when I was with IRESA, they screwed up and used my night readings for day, and day readings for night.
So I got 80% of my electric at the cheap night rate. They never fixed this, even after I pointed it out to them, twice. ]

Re: The energy crisis
 

Octopus did not charge me for leccy in August either --not even standing charge. Only gas. I have a smart meter, and since they charged me for gas, I know they can "talk" to the meter. ?????

Re: The energy crisis
 

They did the same to my daughter but she was a Bulb move over. Ended up being billed over £350

Re: The energy crisis
 

Scottish power is knocking a tiny bit off gas and leccy, but adding to the Standing Charge... AGAIN!

Re: The energy crisis
 

I got this from OVO.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Plus the existing rate of Standing Charge of course.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Received this from Shell Energy this week

https://www.cableforum.uk/board/atta...6&d=1695299945

Re: The energy crisis
 

Octopus is reducing unit rates and freezing standing charge for both gas and electric.

(Attached - electricity is the one with 60p standing charge)

Re: The energy crisis
 

Wouldn't it be better to put the unit cost up and the standing charge down to encourage less use

Re: The energy crisis
 

You’re confusing the Energy Companies with someone who want to make less money - Standing Charges = guaranteed revenue (no matter how much the customer reduces usage…)

Re: The energy crisis
 

My new prices will be

Standing Charges:
Gas = 29.11p per day
Electric = 50.31p per day

Usage:
Gas = 6.77p per kWh
Electric = 26.76p per kWh

As noted, the standing charge is unchanged, the usage as gone down from 29.47p & 7.37p.
The standing charges are identical to what I previously paid both EDF & British Gas earlier in the year.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Glad I didn't fix my flexible Octopus tariffs.

Unit rates have decreased standing charges haven't changed.

New Prices
Standing Charges:
Gas = 27.468p per day
Electric = 42.013p per day

Unit Rate
Gas = 6.786p per kWh
Electric = 27.932p per kWh

Re: The energy crisis
 

How nice of them to freeze zero usage fees at £1 a day. :(

---------- Post added at 19:08 ---------- Previous post was at 19:05 ----------

A fair few of us have been arguing this on social media, but its on deaf ears.

Ofgem have been moving various industry costs from unit to SC deliberately for their own reasons (likely political), but in addition the industry is likely fighting with customers who are reducing their usage, so shifting costs to SC acts as revenue protection.

Re: The energy crisis
 

In defence of the standing charge: there is a network of pipes, pumps, high voltage lines and substations that requires maintenance so it’s available for your use regardless of how much gas or electricity you actually consume. Your supplier has to pay a transmission charge to the local network operator for the privilege of having you as a customer attached to their network. It isn’t all about the actual quantity of gas or electricity you consume, although the suppliers have done more than their fair share towards muddying the waters here, with various tariffs that more or less decouple the actual transmission cost from their standing charge.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Most people would not use less, just end up paying more, so .. no thanks.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Disgraceful charges Standing charges Etc

Re: The energy crisis
 

Re: The energy crisis
 

The infrastructure costs remain regardless of the fuel cost. If fuel prices plummeted the owners would still need to keep spending and material costs still could rise. Maybe a cap on the SC paid so the companies get enough and the customers don't get hit quite so hard.


I guess it comes down to knowing who owns what and where the money goes. And would people in some areas need to pay more SC if the infrastructure to supply them is "more expensive". (e.g. remote farm may have an almost exclusive "pipe" that could cost more than a house on a street with more shared infrastructure.)

Re: The energy crisis
 

Customers connected to certain distribution networks do indeed pay more. Even though suppliers muck about with the standing charge you’ll notice two customers on the same tariff with the same supplier in different parts of the country will pay different rates. SSE’s network in northern Scotland is the most expensive of the lot (hundreds of miles of exposed cable with very few customers to pay for it). SP Manweb’s Merseyside and North Wales network is likewise stretched thin in North Wales, although counter-intuitively it’s also relatively expensive in Liverpool because the original electricity distribution network there was somewhat over-designed. It’s practically bomb-proof but correspondingly pricey to maintain.

It’s the distribution network operator that levies these charges but the domestic suppliers pass them on.

Re: The energy crisis
 

I have had contracts in the past that had no Standing Charge. But, and it's a big but, if you used less than a certain amount each month, they tagged-on a Connection Charge to the bill. Our neighbours went abroad for over 3 months, so no gas or leccy used, but they got slapped with bills.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Still broken (well I assume its broken). :erm:

Despite having multiple meter readings from the day I joined, they still havent charged me a single penny for usage, just the daily SC. :dozey:

At this rate I'm going to have a hell of a balance building up. :angel:

Re: The energy crisis
 

Got an email from OVO today confirming I'll get the £150 Warm Home Discount again this year.

Given they are still not charging me for any electricity at all, my balance sure is going to shoot up. :erm:

Re: The energy crisis
 

I hope you are putting money aside for that eventuality, Paul…🤔

Re: The energy crisis
 

Something similar happened with me when I was transferred to EON. No bills for year despite me chasing. When they did eventually sort it out ( blaming the previous supplier who"d gone bust), I put a complaint in hoping for a bit of a discount. They credited me the whole debit balance back (£270), which was a nice result.

Re: The energy crisis
 

It’s illegal for your energy supplier to chase you for debts older than 12 months, unless you’ve been actively avoiding paying them in which case the deadline is something like 7 years. In the case of them not billing you for over a year, technically they could try to work out exactly how much you used before and after the cut-off date but rather than risk being dragged through the courts if they get it wrong it’s probably just easier for them to write off the whole debt.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Well I'm not activily avoiding it, Im still paying my DD monthly, they are just not billing me for the usage, just the SC.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Well at this point cross your fingers and count the months down. If they eventually try to issue a bill more than 12 months in arrears, pounce …

Re: The energy crisis
 

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.ph...witch-off.html

7 million smart meters to be cut off by 2033. (well, could)

Re: The energy crisis
 

Not very smart are they? Lol

Re: The energy crisis
 

Well yes, presumably they will become dumb meters that you need to read.

In what world ?
I doubt that would cover the meter cost, let alone the engineer time.

Re: The energy crisis
 

I think they might mean every household in the country making the cost tens of millions

Re: The energy crisis
 

Yes, because heaven forbid the utility company will take the hit in profits by funding the meter themselves.

Re: The energy crisis
 

I think they do, but even still what - 28 million households?

£8 wouldn’t pay someone to cross your door, let alone start playing around with meters and equipment, test, and leave. Their hourly rate would be far in excess of this, before anyone even adds the cost of new meters/modules.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Would they just post it and the user plugs it in, in place of the old smart meter?

Re: The energy crisis
 

Probably a daft question but .....Couldn't the change over be done by a remote software change/update. I know when my smart meter was playing up Octopus gave it a long distance kick to make it behave.

Re: The energy crisis
 

That's only the remote user display. The actual smart meter is hard wired into the main power feed to the fusebox.

Re: The energy crisis
 

If they’re wired for 2G or 3G and they need 4G they will require different hardware. I guess there might be a swappable module inside them but it might mean a full replacement.

Re: The energy crisis
 

That's what the article says.

I've just been to look at mine. The swappable module is not going to be cheap, and is not user replaceable (the screws have tamper-evident seals on)

Re: The energy crisis
 

I dont think all 28 million have smart meters, esp older ones.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Apologies - I think Jaymoss was saying they were using the figure for all households (28 million-ish) when they arrived at £2, and just not those with smart meters (around 7m).

So the whole cost of the exercise £56m instead of £14m. However, it still seems very small.

Re: The energy crisis
 

Re: The energy crisis
 

Depends how they cost it

If they cost total cost of the job then it will be a lot more but if they factor in the guys are working for them anyway so labour costs are not included then it will be only the cost of the parts. Selling £2 per household costs is a lot more palatable that a tenner +

Re: The energy crisis
 

It's also a lie. :D